Every G1 Climax 30 Participant’s Odds Of Winning

Minoru Suzuki – A Block – 7/10

Minoru Suzuki’s exclusion from last year’s G1 Climax was baffling. Still one of the best and most respected stars in New Japan Pro Wrestling, Suzuki is currently the NEVER Openweight Champion and in a position to step up and win this year’s G1 Climax.

He has a history with Tetsuya Naito and realistically only has so many years left at 52 years old. Locked into a rivalry with Shingo Takagi, the two are set to headline the final night of A Block competition. This is usually a pretty good indication of who could be in contention come the end of the tournament. With experience on his side, Suzuki might just be the man to advance from the A Block.


SANADA – B Block – 8/10

Where to start with SANADA? He was another person who seemed destined for a big 2020 but continued to fall short. He fell to Zack Sabre Jr. at Wrestle Kingdom 14 and lost in the New Japan Cup as well. At the time of the pandemic, he was the only member of Los Ingobernables de Japon without a championship. If SANADA is going to win the G1 Climax, this is the year to do it.

Just as Suzuki and Takagi are set to headline the A Block Final, SANADA and EVIL will headline the B Block Final. We have not seen the two former partners battle since EVIL’s turn at the New Japan Cup Final, and a win for SANADA could send him to the G1 Climax Final. If SANADA is to step up and take his turn as the top challenger for Naito, winning the G1 Climax is his best shot.


TAICHI – A Block – 4/10

TAICHI has stepped up big time since last year’s G1 Climax. Often seen as the bottom of New Japan’s workrate totem pole, TAICHI has done quite a bit to shed that preconception since last year. His matches with Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, and the Golden Aces have been very good and now he has the chance to have even more top notch matches in the A Block.

However, he doesn’t seem like a likely winner for the tournament as a whole. There are a ton of more suitable contenders in the A Block and TAICHI has found a nice groove as half of the IWGP Tag Team Champions alongside Zack Sabre Jr. You can expect him to step up but maybe don’t put money on him winning. He does have history with Naito, so you never know.


Zack Sabre Jr. – B Block – 5/10

Along the same lines as his tag team partner, Zack Sabre Jr. might be someone to watch in the B Block this year. Another participant with history with the IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Sabre might finally put it together in his fourth G1 Climax. Similar to TAICHI, his role as tag champ might get in the way of a potential victory.

His performance in last year’s G1 Climax also doesn’t inspire much faith. He lost his first three tournament matches last year and essentially lost his chance before he could get going. Sabre has been unable to replicate his success from the 2018 New Japan Cup but he will try his hardest to change that this year.

4 years ago by Tempest

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